Marry Me Chicken Bake Cups (Print Version)

Creamy chicken and orzo baked in muffin cups with Parmesan, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh basil.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken & Pasta

01 - 2 cups cooked orzo pasta (approximately 6.35 oz dry)
02 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced

→ Marry Me Sauce

03 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 cup heavy cream
06 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
07 - 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
08 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
09 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
10 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
11 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

→ Assembly & Topping

12 - 2 large eggs
13 - 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
14 - 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
15 - 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
16 - Olive oil spray

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 12-cup muffin tin with olive oil spray.
02 - Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and sauté minced garlic for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add heavy cream, grated Parmesan, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, Italian herbs, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper to the skillet. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until the mixture slightly thickens.
04 - Stir cooked chicken into the sauce and simmer for 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
05 - In a large bowl, combine the cooked orzo, chicken-sauce mixture, eggs, shredded mozzarella, and chopped basil. Stir until fully incorporated.
06 - Divide the mixture evenly into the prepared muffin tin cups, pressing lightly to compact the contents.
07 - Sprinkle panko breadcrumbs evenly over each cup and mist lightly with olive oil spray.
08 - Bake in the preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes until the tops are golden brown and set.
09 - Allow to cool for 5 minutes, then loosen the edges with a knife and remove the cups from the tin.
10 - Garnish with additional fresh basil before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Each cup is perfectly portioned so no one hovers awkwardly over a communal dish with a serving spoon.
  • The contrast between the crunchy panko crust and the silky Marry Me sauce feels like a tiny celebration in your mouth.
  • You can make these ahead and bake them right before guests arrive, which means you actually get to enjoy your own party.
  • Orzo soaks up all that garlicky cream without turning mushy, giving each bite structure and flavor.
02 -
  • Let the chicken mixture cool before adding the eggs or youll end up with scrambled egg bits throughout your filling instead of a smooth custard like binder.
  • Press the mixture firmly into each cup. Loose packing makes them crumbly and hard to remove in one piece.
  • Dont skip the olive oil mist on the panko. Without it, the breadcrumbs stay pale and taste raw instead of toasted and nutty.
03 -
  • Use a spring loaded ice cream scoop to portion the mixture into the muffin cups evenly and quickly without making a mess.
  • Let the cups cool completely before storing them in an airtight container. They reheat beautifully in a 350 degree F oven for about 8 minutes.
  • If the edges stick despite greasing, run a thin offset spatula around each cup instead of a knife. It gets under the crust without tearing.
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